How to Get an HR Job With No Experience - Jonathan Carter for Leap2HR (6908 hits)
It’s a frustrating scenario: you’re looking for your first HR position, but the entry level positions typically require two years of experience. How do you get a HR job without experience?
Most new HR professionals are familiar with this situation. It seems like getting an HR manager to take a chance on you is nearly impossible, especially when there are displaced professionals competing for the same entry-level jobs.
Don't get discouraged! There are simple, effective strategies to make you competitive for entry level HR positions - even if your current responsibilities aren't HR-related.
There are four major gateways to starting an HR career:
It may not always be possible to gain access using these methods if you have no HR experience. Let’s review some alternative strategies to get enough experience to get in the door.
The Basics:
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- Network with your organization’s HR staff, in person or through LinkedIn.
- Ask for opportunities to get involved in HR, training, and employee relations functions within your department.
- Participate in HR or compliance training if your organization offers it. Take online training during your down time, if it's available.
- Use training to offset your lack of experience in an interview: “I’m new to the industry and looking forward to gaining experience, but I’ve been fully trained in FMLA and HIPAA compliance…”
- Update your resume and LinkedIn profile to indicate your interest in HR-related positions.
- Tailor your past job descriptions to highlight transferrable skills, such as training, coaching, counseling, analyzing data, ensuring compliance with policy or procedure, managing employee communications, etc.
- Participate in your local SHRM chapter, and connect with senior HR professionals looking for talent.
Creative Ways to Demonstrate Experience:
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- Volunteer with a community organization or nonprofit in a HR-related role. This add a HR-related job title to your resume, and builds your credibility.
- Get involved with a legal aid society, or a local law school that offers pro-bono services to gain experience in employment law.
- Participate in an organization that does workforce readiness training for students. Get experience delivering training and conducting mock interviews.
- If you’re a student, volunteer at your college’s placement or career office to gain experience reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and working with recruiters.
- Join or organize a student chapter of SHRM, and lead a chapter committee.
- Publish your own monthly or quarterly HR newsletter or e-zine.
There are many ways to develop your HR expertise, even if your current job isn’t HR-related. Don’t be intimidated because you haven’t landed your first HR job yet. It will happen… and these strategies will help.
